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Our lack of denial of self betrays our lack of knowledge of "the great passionate heart"

From Jim Elliot's (1927-56) journal:

"Surely those who know the great passionate heart of Jehovah must deny their own lives to share in the expression of His.

Consider the call from the Throne above, "Go ye," and from round about, "Come over and help us," and even the call from the damned souls below, "Send Lazarus to my brothers, that they come not to this place." Impelled then, by these voices, I dare not stay home while Quichuas perish. So what if the well-fed church in the homeland needs stirring? They have the Scriptures, Moses, and the Prophets, and a whole lot more. Their condemnation is written on their bank books and in the dust on their Bible covers. American believers have sold their lives to the service of Mammon, and God has His rightful way of dealing with those who succumb to the spirit of Laodicea."

(H.T. Radical)

Elliot's first sentence is critical. Everything hinges on knowing the great passionate heart of God. And knowing that "great passionate heart" comes from seeing it demonstrated at the Cross (Romans 5:8). And the Cross only has value if my sin was so serious to God in His holiness, so permanently separating, and so impossible to overcome that it was absolutely necessary for the Son of God to suffer there in my place for my redemption. If everything hinges on knowing the great passionate heart of God, then everything hinges on knowing the Gospel.

Our lack of burden for people, our Mammon-loving bank books and our dusty Bibles all have the same source, namely, unbelief in God and the Gospel. But how do we overcome this?

• Repentance for our coolness and idolatry (Ezek. 14:6, 1 John 4:20-21, Rev. 2:5).
• Prayer for divine help to see Christ as He is and the Gospel for what it is (Mark 9:24, 2 Cor. 4:4-6, Ephesians 3:14-19).
• Participation in a community that stirs us to remember our confidence in Christ (Hebrews 3:12-19, 10:19-25).
• Urgent, Gospel-service to the "Quichuas" God puts on our heart (Romans 10:1, 1 Cor. 9:19-23).

Our clocks are ticking...

Buy Books, Support a Missionary

There is a new Amazon Store set up at "...all things new" and I am excited to announce that all commission proceeds will go to Gospel for Asia! You can access the store via the link on the right hand column. The inventory will consist of books that have been helpful for my mind, heart and practice. If you would like commission proceeds from other purchases you make at Amazon to go to Gospel for Asia, follow this link (and bookmark it for future purchases).

Read, be stirred and help spread good news to Asia.

Prayer, Preaching & Missions: How do they work together? Video feat. John Piper

"You can't understand what prayer is for, until you understand that life is war." -John Piper

Additional Resources

Let the Nations Be Glad (online book, Chapter 1 - .pdf)

Prayer for Our City church prayer outline

Video excerpt from "Let the Nations Be Glad - Part 2" at Advance09

A Mission to Soldiers in Afganistan: From Mars Hill Church in Seattle

From theResurgence:

"Last month marked the most US deaths in Afghanistan since we got there 8 years ago. Combat affords us the opportunity to acknowledge death and contemplate what is important in our lives. So when the gospel gets a hold of us, we have no other choice but to spread the word. 'When you are a starving man among starving people and you discover a banquet in the wilderness, you become a debtor to all.' (John Piper, Desiring God)

Our goal with the Mars Hill Military Mission is not to thank service members for 'protecting' our freedom and 'serving' their country; rather, it is to have them share in the blessings we have so graciously—and undeservedly—been afforded by the blood of Jesus on his cross. Not only is there forgiveness of sins on the cross, there is new life at the resurrection.

Read more about Mars Hill's Military Mission and find out how to contribute here.